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Message Kootenay-Columbia Strategic Plan2025-2030
Kootenay-Columbia Board of Education* not pictured: Terry Hanik, Gordon Smith, & Mark Wilson
The Kootenay-Columbia Boardof Education acknowledges theland on which we gather, and allthe First Nations who have beencaring for it for many thousandsof years with dignity andrespect.
Grateful regards on behalf of the board, Catherine ZaitsoffBoard Chair, Kootenay-Columbia School DistrictCatherine ZaitsoffBoard ChairOn behalf of the school board for the Kootenay-Columbia School District (KCSD), I want toexpress sincere gratitude to the students, families, staff, partner groups, and community foryour dedication and unwavering belief in the power of education. Your spirit of collaboration has shaped the new strategic plan. With your voices andexperiences at the heart of this work, we were able to renew our vision and missionstatements, set commitments, and identify three key areas of focus: building a genuine sense of belonging for every studentclosing the achievement and graduation gaps for Indigenous studentsraising achievement in numeracy and empowering all students with the skills they needfor their futureFrom the Board of Education ChairWith this strategic plan as our foundational document for 2025-2030, we will continue to create a district where every student hasopportunities to learn, to achieve their full potential, and be empowered to pursue their dreams.
Board of Education TrusteesKristin AliTrusteeSteve PiccoloTrusteeTerry HanikTrusteeDarrel GanzertVice-ChairGordon SmithTrusteeDarilyn SimisterTrusteeBirkley ValksTrusteeMark WilsonTrustee
Looking forward to the journey,Superintendent, Kootenay-Columbia School DistrictKatherine ShearerSuperintendentFrom the SuperintendentContinuousImprovementforStudent LearningInitiate adapted strategiesAlign operationsfor implementationReviewdata andevidenceand respond to resultsMonitor learningoutcomes andstrategyeffectivenessALIGNIMPLEMENTMONITORREVIEW & RESPONDIt is a pleasure to share the Kootenay-Columbia School District (KCSD) StrategicPlan 2025–2030. This new plan sets the foundation, affirms our commitments,and identifies key focus areas as we navigate the next five years together.The KCSD Strategic Plan 2025–2030 is part of our Continuous ImprovementCycle for Student Learning. By working with our stakeholders to review evidenceof learning, we can respond with intention, align operational practices, implementand adapt strategies, and monitor outcomes to ensure our efforts are effectiveand student-centered.We are grateful for the contributions of students, staff, families, and thepublic. We appreciate the guidance and support of the Ministry ofEducation and Child Care Strategic Plan Renewal Community of Practiceand Mike McKay of Hadrian Consulting in the development of this plan.Together, we can lean into our shared vision, mission, commitments, andfocus areas - bringing the words on these pages to life in our classrooms,schools, and communities.ONGOING ENGAGEMENTONGOING ENGAGEMENTONGOING ENGAGEMENTONGOING ENGAGEMENT
Kootenay-ColumbiaSchool District 20~4100~80010Programs&ServicesEarly Learning Programs: Blueberry Creek StrongStartFruitvale Elementary School StrongStartRobson Community School StrongStartRossland Summit School StrongStartAfterschool Care Programs: Twin Rivers Elementary SchoolFruitvale Elementary SchoolRobson Community SchoolJames L. Webster Elementary SchoolRossland Summit SchoolEducation Services: District Counselling Inclusion Support Indigenous Inclusion Support English Language Learning School-Based Child & Youth CareSchool Food and Nutrition Integrated Child & Youth (ICY) TeamEducation Programs:Early French Immersion Late French ImmersionYouth Train in TradesDual Credit Programs StudentsEmployeesSchools
VisionOur vision is to be an inclusive andcompassionate learning community whereeveryone has opportunities to learn, to achievetheir full potential, and be empowered to pursuetheir dreams. MissionWe are a responsive learning communitycommitted to supporting every student’ssuccess.FOUNDATIONCOMMITMENTSLearning CommunityCultivating learning communities whocommunicate and think critically topursue personal strengths andinterests.Compassionate CultureWhere people belong and feelsafe to learn and grow.Diversity & EquityCelebrating the strength ofdiversity. Equity inopportunities for all.Reconciliation“Building relationship withIndigenous Peoples, based onthe recognition of rights, respect and partnership.” Government of CanadaConnectionsAuthentic connections withthe people and placewhere we live, learn, workand play. SustainabilityContributing to a just andsustainable future.
attending regularly and engaging with staff andpeers in a positive wayfeeling safe, seen, and connectedcontributing to the school community through theirunique identity and being resilient when faced withchallengesbuilding the skills, language and strategies tonavigate conflict, and taking ownership for theiractions and wordsWe will see schools:Focus on BelongingObservable Actions:We will see students:Kootenay-Columbia School District will continue to build a sense of belonging for allstudents across increasingly diverse classrooms and school communities. promoting a compassionate culture and providingopportunities for positive engagement fostering an environment where connection anddiversity are celebratedworking with staff and students to makeschool/classroom expectations explicitsupporting students in developing conflictresolution skills and taking ownership for theiractions and words
Learner Evidence & Tasks:Student Learning Survey datastudent voice dataattendance databehaviour supportscompassionate culturescommunity buildingrestorative approachesnavigating difficult conversationscomplex classroomsstaff wellnessWe will see the district developingstructures, strategies, and professionaldevelopment for:
assisting Indigenous students who experience barriers(academic and social emotional) supporting Indigenous students in designing a pathway tograduation and future dreamslistening and responding to student voice in reference toIndigenous identity and experiencesproviding cultural experiences in school and linking studentsand families to opportunities in communitybuilding a compassionate culture where students feel safeto experience and share challengescommunicating available supports to staff, students, andfamilies We will see schools:Observable Actions:We will see Indigenous students:creating a path between schoolachievement and life opportunities attending regularly and engaging in learningfeeling connected within the schoolcommunity, where Indigenous Ways ofKnowing and Being are celebratedidentifying challenges to success at schooland seeking supports to address themKootenay-Columbia School District will close the gap in achievement (K-12) andgraduation completion rates for Indigenous students.Focus on Indigenous Student Success
attendance dataSummary of Learning (report card)provincial assessmentsdocumented supports, services, andexperiences provided to studentsstudent voice datagraduation ratesmonitor attendance and achievementprovide graduation mentorshipengage in cultural teachingsconnect with community-based services andopportunitiesparticipate in and lead professionaldevelopmentprovide support for Indigenous students toaddress any challengesLearner Evidence & Tasks:We will see the district developingstructures and strategies to supportschools to:
Focus on NumeracyObservable Actions:Kootenay-Columbia School District will increase student achievement for all students innumeracy (the ability to understand and work with numbers).actively participating in numeracy learning bysharing their thinking, working collaborativelywith others, and persevering to solve problemsactively demonstrating and applying strategies,tools, and supports to be numerateutilizing math for real life and makingconnections to how it plays a role in their livesand in societyWe will see students:We will see elementary schools:engaging in daily numeracy instruction using consistent mathlanguage, and revisiting concepts throughout the yearproviding experiences with multiple access points andopportunities to collaborate and apply skills and competenciesassessing students and meeting with them to create andmonitor meaningful numeracy goalscommunicating with families around supporting numeracy athomeexplicitly connecting math to real-life experiences providing opportunities to practice and experience everydaymath (time, measurement, money)
provide ongoing professionaldevelopment, collaborationopportunities, and resourcesexplore the creation andimplementation of a districtnumeracy assessment toolprovide learning opportunitiesfor families to support numeracyat homeexploring different models for thedelivery of math classes in order toincrease student success listening and responding to studentvoice to inform planning fornumeracy instructionensuring students realize their mathidentity and select math courses thatwill best suit their future dreams andaspirationshelping students understand howmath relates to other subjects andconnects to everyday lifeprovincial numeracyassessmentsSummary of Learningnumeracy data (report card)student voice dataStudent Learning Surveydatadistrict assessment datacore competencyreflectionsLearner Evidence &Tasks:We will see secondary schools:We will see the districtdeveloping structures andstrategies to supportschools to:
superintendent@sd20.bc.caLearn more about the Kootenay-ColumbiaSchool District:Katherine ShearerSuperintendent2001 Third AvenueTrail, BC V1R 1R6250.368.6434@schooldistrict20sd20.bc.ca@SD20kc